SAGE SAGE Concord

Background & Education:

Veterinary School: University of Georgia 

Veterinary medicine is a second career for Dr. Ruth Dunning, but perhaps her first love. Although she has volunteered for animals shelters her entire life, a chance meeting, as she was graduating from college, left a lasting impression. She did not immediately go into veterinary medicine, instead finding a career in advertising sales with Conde Nast Magazines, She eventually returned to school at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She has a special interest in neurology, immune-mediated diseases, infectious diseases, and surgery.

Dr. Dunning is a shelter advocate and her pets come to her through rescue organizations. She currently has a mixed breed dog named Dylan, and 2 cats: Fannie who was found as a kitten under the fan belt of a truck, and Momo, an epileptic kitty she inherited from a client who could no longer care for her.

Background & Education: 

Veterinary Education: University of California, Davis

Dr. Emanuelson graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiology, University of California Davis, with highest honors, a Departmental Citation of Outstanding Academic Accomplishment in Physiology and a membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She received her veterinary degree from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Zoological Medicine Track.

Dr. Emanuelson completed an internship at The Zoological Society of London, Whipsnade Park and London Zoo, England; she became a temporary member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. 

Dr. Emanuelson (Dr. E) became a partner/owner in Cottage Veterinary Hospital with Steven Sanders DVM. Dr E worked at Cottage as a small animal/exotic and wildlife veterinarian and owner for 7 years. She then became interum Chief of Service, Zoological Medicine at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for a year, and continued for 2 years as a clinical veterinarian and teacher for the program.

 Dr E started as a volunteer veterinarian at Oakland Zoo when she first returned from the United Kingdom, then after UC Davis Zoo Med, became the full time Veterinarian at the Zoo. She was named Director of Veterinary Services, Oakland Zoo in 2000. Dr E feels it was a privilege working with the incredible zoo animals, large and small! A lifetime achievement was building the veterinary program, and being instrumental in the design and utilization of the world class Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital, as the Zoo expanded to include many new species of large native California animals.

Dr Emanuelson was inspired by her mother, a small animal/exotic/wildlife veterinarian who built Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Walnut Creek with her father. The family bred and showed German Shepard Dogs, and Arabian Horses; did wildlife rehabilitation at home and at the SPCA; were founders of the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association in Fairfield; and rescued many beloved cats! Recently Dr E has had the pleasure of doing veterinary relief work at Northpointe Veterinary Hospital, a 24-hour emergency and general small animal practice.

Dr E is excited to join the new Urgent Care Service at SAGE, and return to some of her very first loves: dogs, cats, and their medicine!

Backgrounds and Education

Veterinary School: Royal Veterinary College, University of London

 Dr. Cassidy Hui-Jung Yang is excited to be joining SAGE! She was born in Taiwan and moved to California when she was a teenager. She graduated from University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. She then spent in the next five years working at City of Hope National Medical Center as a Cancer Research Associate. Having always loved medicine and animals, and after years of volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center, Dr. Yang decided to combine her passions and pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She earned her veterinary degree from Royal Veterinary College at University of London, UK before returning to California. She then completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center. Prior to joining SAGE, she worked in general practice and preventative medicine in San Pablo and San Jose. Her special interests include feline medicine, geriatric medicine,  trauma/wound care, emergency medicine, and soft tissue surgery.

 Dr. Yang lives in the East Bay with her husband and a rescue Yorkie mix named Archie. She recently adopted two orphan kittens named Maverick and Goose. When Dr. Yang is not treating patients, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, yoga, traveling, and baking. She looks forward to meeting you and your furry little ones!